338 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



white clover honey can be bought for less than that. Those 

 who desire to have something exceedingly beautiful ,to the 

 eye, and delicate to the taste, at a season when the bees are 

 not storing up honey from the blossoms, and in situations 

 where the natural supply is of an inferior quality, if they 

 do not regard expense, can place upon their tables, some- 

 thing which will be pronounced by the best judges, a little 

 superior to any thiog they ever tasted before. 



I have repeatedly spoken of the great care which is nec- 

 essary to prevent bees from getting a taste of forbidden 

 sweets, so as to be tempted to engage in dishonest courses. 

 The experienced Apiarian will fully appreciate the necessity 

 of these cautions, aad the inexperienced, if they neglect them, 

 will be taught a lesson that they will not soon forget. Let 

 it be remembered that the bee was intended to gather its 

 sweets from the nectaries of flowers : to use the exquisit- 

 ly beautiful language of him whose wonderful writings 

 supply us on almost every subject, with the richest thoughts 

 and happiest illustrations, they were created to 

 " Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds, 



Which pillage they with merry march bring home 



To the tent royal of their emperor : 



Who, busied in his majesty, surveys 



The singing masons, building roofs of gold." — Shdkspeare. 



When thus engaged, the bees work in perfect accordance 

 with their natural instincts, and seem to have little or no dis- 

 position to meddle with property that does not belong to 

 them. If however, their incautious owner tempts them 

 with liquid food, especially at times when they can obtain 

 nothing from the blossoms, they seem to be so infatuated with 

 such easy gatherings, as to lose all discretion, and they will 

 perish by thousands, if the vessels which contain the food 

 are not furnished with floats, on which they can stand and 

 help themselves in safety. 



The fly was intended to feed, not upon the blossoms, but 



